Canada has approved Enbridge’s C$4 billion Sunrise Expansion, clearing the way for a major buildout of British Columbia gas infrastructure that will add 300 million cubic feet per day of capacity to the Westcoast pipeline system.
Construction is scheduled to begin in July, with the project targeted to enter service in late 2028, Enbridge said in a Friday press release.
The expansion includes about 139 kilometers of new pipeline through 11 looping segments, additional compression, and upgrades to existing facilities along the Westcoast system, which already moves up to 3.6 billion cubic feet per day.
The added capacity comes as British Columbia prepares for rising gas demand tied to power generation, industrial growth and LNG exports, including facilities such as Woodfibre LNG. Ottawa explicitly tied the approval to energy security and supply reliability as Canadian policymakers push infrastructure projects faster.
For Enbridge, the project expands a critical gas artery at a time when North American natural gas infrastructure is increasingly being viewed through both export and security lenses.
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The company said Sunrise is expected to contribute more than C$3 billion to Canada’s economy and support roughly 2,500 construction jobs. Enbridge also said more than C$52 million has already been spent with Indigenous businesses, while the Westcoast system itself includes Indigenous ownership through the Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance.
Major greenfield pipeline approvals in Canada have become harder to secure. Sunrise is an expansion line alongside an existing corridor, and expansion projects often carries fewer regulatory obstacles than entirely new routes.
The project also strengthens feedgas positioning for Canada’s LNG ambitions. British Columbia has been moving to establish itself as a Pacific Coast export hub, and additional takeaway capacity supports that buildout.
Sunrise adds roughly 8% to the Westcoast system’s current capacity, which is noteworthy in a market where new LNG demand, domestic heating demand, and industrial loads compete for the same resource.
The approval also comes as North American natural gas infrastructure has drawn renewed strategic attention, with governments increasingly linking pipeline expansions to affordability, reliability and trade.
by Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
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